Appendix A.l

XVII

E.—2.

expired in August, were re-elected unopposed; while Mr. Sherratt was re-elected by a majority of sixty-seven over his opponent, Mr. D. T. McPhedran. At the annual meeting of the Board, Mr. J. S. Rutherford was re-elected Chairman. During the year the Board held twenty-three ordinary meetings and two special meetings, the average attendance at the ordinary meetings being BT. Officers and Staff. —At the beginning of the year the Inspectors, through the operation of the Education Act, became officer's of the central Department. Although not now under the control of the Board, the harmonious relations previously existing have continued, and the Boartl is grateful fen' the advice anel help so willingly given by these officers. On his appointment as an Inspector under the Department Mr. J. A. Valentine, who for nearly two years had occupied the dual position of Inspector anel Secretary, was compelled to resign his position as Secretary to the Board. In accepting his resignation, the Board passed a resolution expressing its appreciation of his services, and of the very able and satisfactory manner in which he had discharged his duties. The position was filled by the appointment of Mr. J. M. Miller, who for the previous eight years had been clerk in the Board's office. fei Schools. —The number of schools in operation in this district at the end of the year was eightyfive. No schools were opened or closed. On the Ist January the Geraldine Primary School was raised to the status of a district high school. For 1915 the schools of the district were graded thus :— n , ,o l I Average Number of Total Wade ol Attendance. Schools. Attendance. Grade 0 .. .. .. Jto 8 2 21 I .. .. .. 9 „ 20 26 434 II .. .. .. 21 „ 86 27 720 IIIa .. ~. 36 „ 80 18 794 IIIb 81 ~ 120 4 369 IVa .. 121 „ 160 1 128 I?B .. 161 „ 200 1 168 IVo 201 „ 240 1 256 Yd .. .. .. 361 „ 400 ] 378 Vlb .. .. .. .. 451 „ 500 1 465 VIIa .. .. 501 „ 550 2 1,068 VIII . - - - - - - - 901 „ 950 I 903 At the four district high schools the averages were —Waimate, 57 ; Temuka, 42 ; Pleasant Point, 27 ; Geraldine, 24. Buildings. —The past year has been a very busy one for the building staff. Evidently in anticipation of the abolition of the Board, requests poured in from Committees and teachers for repairs and alterations to their sohools and residences. So much had to be undertaken that it was found necessary to employ two gangs of carpenters and two gangs of painters. The work carried out included the painting of the exterior of twenty-two schools and twenty residences, the interior of fifteen schools and nineteen residences, and general repairs to twenty schools and twenty residences. Not only were the buildings overhauled and painted, but in the majority of cases the interior of the schools and residences was kalsomined, painted, or papered as was found necessary. The workshop has also been kept busy, 615 dual desks, manufactured by the Board's staff, having been despatched to the larger schools. In the case; of many of the smaller schools, especially were entertainments arc held in the buildings the; Committees were asked to send in the old desks and forms to have the teips widened, planed, and varnished. This work has very much improved the furniture, as well as the appearance of the school-rooms. At the Timaru Main School small tables and chairs to accommodate sixty pupils were provided for Montessori work. New residences were erected at Pleasant Valley, Redcliff, and Orari, a new school was erected at Rockwood, and an addition made to the Allandale School. New brick closets, fitted with up-to-date sanitary conveniences, were erected at Waimataitai and Timaru South Schools. On account of the difficulty of maintaining the long right-of-way leading to the Waikakahi School, the building was removed to another site near the Waihao River. The very dry season has been the source of numerous complaints regarding water-supplies. The Board has spent a considerable sum in providing new wells and deepening old ones, and providing additional tanks. It is hoped that with the return of normal weather-conditions many wells and tanks now empty will prove sufficient for the requirements of the schools concerned. Owing to the financial conditons resulting from the war the Board has as far as possible refrained from r making applications for grants for the erection of new residences or the replacing of old decaying ones. Teachers. —On the 31 st December there were in the Board's service 207 teachers, classed as follows: — [~ Males. Pemales. Total. Head teachers .. .. .. .. .. 25 6 31 Sole teachers .. .. .. .. ..11 43 54 ' Assistants .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 72 84 Total of adult teachers .. .. ..48 121 169 Pupil-teachers .. .. .. .. ..8 16 24 Probationers .. .. .. .. .... 14 14 Totals .. .. .. .. ..56 151 207 Of the adult teachers four males and twenty-one females were uncertificated, as against a total of twenty for the previous year. Of these a good, number had to their credit partial success in one or other of the departmental examinations.

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